title: Expression patterns of influenza virus receptors in the respiratory tracts of four species of poultry.
abstract: The primary determinant of influenza virus infectivity is the type of linkage between sialic acid and oligosaccharides on the host cells. Hemagglutinin of avian influenza viruses preferentially binds to sialic acids linked to galactose by an α-2,3 linkage whereas hemagglutinin of human influenza viruses binds to sialic acids with an α-2,6 linkage. The distribution patterns of influenza receptors in the avian respiratory tracts are of particular interest because these are important for initial viral attachment, replication, and transmission to other species. In this study, we examined the distribution patterns of influenza receptors in the respiratory tract of chickens, ducks, pheasants, and quails because these species have been known to act as intermediate hosts in interspecies transmission. Lectin histochemistry was performed to detect receptor-bearing cells. Cell-specific distribution of the receptors was determined and expression densities were compared. We observed species-, site-, and cell-specific variations in receptor expression. In general, receptor expression was the highest in quails and lowest in ducks. Pheasants and quails had abundant expression of both types of receptors throughout the respiratory tract. These results indicate that pheasants and quails may play important roles as intermediate hosts for the generation of influenza viruses with pandemic potential.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Hakyoung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Hyun Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byung Joon
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chang Seon
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Sang-Soep
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Nahm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000378:metabolism; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000378:metabolism / Q000635:transmission; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism; D011200:Poultry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000737:chemistry*; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
chemical_list: D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D037102:Lectins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D012794:Sialic Acids; C092488:sialic acid receptor